2017 Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid

Refreshed inside and out, this plug-in packs no extra "energi."

STEVE SILER

May 23, 2016

As plug-in hybrids go, the Ford Fusion Energi has ranked among the best. It won a comparison test in 2013 against the now discontinued Honda Accord plug-in hybrid and has seen little competition from other mid-size sedans with plugs until this model year, when the Hyundai Sonata plug-in arrived. Next came that car’s mechanical twin, the 2017 Kia Optima hybrid, which made its debut earlier this year. With more contenders on the way, Ford put its Fusion Energi into the refresh-o-tron for 2017, with a facelift and some nifty interior updates as well as a new, fancy-pants Platinum model for green-leaning types who prefer to be eco-friendly while nestled in the lap of luxury.

Exterior changes for 2017 make all Fusions look a little less derivative of Aston Martins while injecting a little more Ford identity. (That the rest of the Ford car lineup has adapted this new look helps.) Specific changes include new LED head- and taillamps, a new front fascia featuring a wider and more angular grille, chrome garnishes and LED fog lamps, a new rear fascia and lower decklid, and redesigned 17-inch wheels. The interior changes mainly involve a reworked center console with a rotary-style gear selector and relocated cupholders that allow for a longer armrest and better access to the open storage area in the lower dashboard. Ford’s much-improved Sync 3 infotainment system with navigation also is standard on Energi models. Those who spring for the pricey Platinum trim can add to the interior appointments creamy quilted leather seats and stitched, thickly padded leather in antiqued Cocoa on the dashtop and steering wheel.

What hasn’t changed is the Energi’s front-wheel-drive powertrain: a 118-hp electric motor working in cahoots with a 141-hp 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder to put out a total of 188 horsepower. Electrons alone can propel the Fusion up to 85 mph—which we confirmed—but, unlike with the standard hybrid, you don’t have to feather-foot the throttle to prevent the gasoline engine from kicking on during normal acceleration. The Energi’s EV mode lets the driver choose to restrict the gas engine’s participation to extreme power demands only, such as when passing another car on a steep hill.

As before, a 7.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides the juice for electric propulsion and draws its charge on the go from a second motor/generator driven by the engine and from regenerative braking; when parked and plugged in to a charger, the battery pack draws power from the electrical grid. The latter option is what appeals most to those who choose the Energi, with its bigger battery pack, over the conventional Fusion hybrid, which can’t be plugged in to recharge. EPA ratings for the 2017 Fusion Energi when using both gasoline and electric power are 95 MPGe city, 81 MPGe highway, and 88 MPGe combined. Drivers who plug in often and drive only short distances in a mild manner can record truly astronomical fuel economy. If you’re not plugging it in at all, it’s a 42-mpg hybrid, no more efficient than its standard (and lighter) hybrid stablemate, which has the same EPA combined rating. On the other hand, you can drive the Fusion Energi 22 miles on electricity alone.

Weighing nearly two tons with only 188 horses on tap in hybrid mode, the Fusion Energi remains slow—and dramatically more so when operating in all-electric mode. (When we tested a 2013 Energi Titanium in EV mode, hitting 60 mph required an agonizing 14.6 seconds.) Driven sensibly, the Energi is pleasant, and the silent electric-mode operation and smooth ride are totally in character with the Platinum version’s luxury pretensions. When the gasoline engine does kick in, it does it smoothly enough that we had to watch the power-source display to make sure we knew when it was running.

The low-rolling-resistance tires prioritize fuel economy over grip, so sharp maneuvers prompt a fair bit of squeal followed by urgent intervention from the stability-control system. Driven more calmly, both the steering and the brakes offer wonderfully natural feel. Hybrids as a breed have come a long way since their early days of shudders, jerks, and unnatural transitions between power sources.

The 2017 Fusion Energi will be in dealerships this summer, with prices starting at $33,995 for the SE, $34,995 for the Titanium trim, and $41,995 for the loaded Platinum. Those prices average about $4000 to $5000 higher than those of the non-plug-in Fusion hybrid, but local and national EV incentives can narrow the gap or, in some regions, even eliminate the price differential altogether. With refinement, mannerly dynamics, and handsome styling, the Fusion Energi makes a strong case for itself among hybrids, even if it remains a little low on “energi.”